Lemokey, Keychron’s gaming division, has launched a new fully metal gaming keyboard, the L4, in its L-series lineup. While Lemokey is not strictly a budget manufacturer, the brand has released some fantastic boards at ludicrously cheap prices, like the Lemokey X1 ($36). The L4, on the other hand, will burn quite the hole in your pocket.
The L4’s $214 price tag is steep for a gaming keyboard, especially one without the gaming features of powerful Hall Effect keyboards like the Corsair K70 Max ($230) or the Wooting 60HE+ ($174).
That being said, the L4 deserves praise for its excellent switches, lusciously smooth typing and full metal case — it’ll serve you well whether you are working in the office or gaming at home, as long as you have the cash to spare. I can safely say that this metal beast is one of the best mechanical keyboards I have used.
Read on for my full Lemokey L4 keyboard review.
Lemokey L4 review: Cheat Sheet
- What is it? A metallic and mighty mechanical keyboard
- Who is it for? Those looking for a keyboard that could withstand even the most rage-inducing gaming sessions
- What does it cost? A lot — $214, to be exact. If you already have keycaps and switches, you can pick it up for $194, only from the Lemokey website
- What do we like? It has some of the best switches I have used on a mechanical keyboard, and the metal case is both beautiful and durable
- What don’t we like? This price puts it above many Hall Effect keyboards, which are arguably better options for a gaming performance
Lemokey L4 review: Specs
Lemokey L4 review: The ups
The L4 excels thanks to its sturdy metal design and delightful Cherry profile keycaps. Equipped with Keychron Super Switches, the keyboard is responsive for gaming and smooth for typing. It’s also highly customizable, with support for QMK firmware and Lemokey’s easy-to-use Launcher app.
Durable build
You can rest easy knowing that the L4 is built to last. The case is a big old slab of metal, weighing in at a hefty 4 pounds and rivaling some of the heaviest boards we’ve tested: the hulking Keychron Q3 Max ($214, 4.5 lbs) and Keychron Q6 ($195, 5.3 lbs). The weight naturally adds to the board’s durability and keeps the keyboard well-planted on your desk, and the metal case gives a visual edge over even the best plastic-cased keyboards, at least in my opinion.
Much like a tank, the L4’s armor-plating naturally comes at the expense of maneuverability. In testing, the weight and size can be frustrating when trying to adjust the keyboard to my preferred position for games like Counter Strike 2. This isn’t a huge issue, though, especially for less competitively inclined players. Just don’t expect to be making the most of the wireless and Bluetooth functionality, as this thing is not designed to travel.
Smooth switches
The L4 comes with Keychron’s Super Switches (if opting for the pre-assembled model), with my keyboard featuring the Red linear version. The Super Switches are similar to Gateron Reds in Keychron and Lemokey keyboards, but they provide a slight gaming edge with a firmer initial press and a lighter hold.. For gaming, this means accidental inputs are reduced while maintaining a press — holding down the W key to move forwards, for example — doesn’t tire out your fingers.
The 45g of force required to actuate the switches is the standard for most Red switches. But, unlike the Cherry MX Reds I used in the Cherry MX 3.1 ($119), a full press of a key does not have a rough sensation to it — the switches are remarkably smooth.
Typing experience
While my typing speeds and accuracy weren’t the best of the keyboards I’ve tested, the L4 still performed above average. What the stats can’t show you is just how easy and comfortable it was to type on. Cherry profile keycaps offer a large surface area, especially on bigger letter keys, and are angled to reduce finger stretching.
Meanwhile, the Keychron Super switches use a double length spring that provides a more consistent feeling to the press. The added foam layers and gasket mount design inside the case also serve to make typing on the L4 as comfortable as possible.
The L4 sounds great while typing, too. The heavy metal case, a decent amount of sound dampening and heavy PBT keycaps mean they remain relatively quiet yet incredibly satisfying, with a light tapping sound even during fast typing.
Gaming performance
The Cherry key profile also makes the L4 very comfortable to play on. In testing, it allowed my hand to rest easily and naturally while playing, without requiring awkward stretching. The keyboard felt a bit bulky for FPS games like Counter-Strike 2. However, it was ideal for MMOs and RPGs, providing lasting comfort for long sessions, especially when leveling a new character in Final Fantasy XIV.
The switches were reactive in games, with performance similar to other Linear Red switches on other keyboards — they are easy to press due to a fairly low force requirement of 45g, and a pre-travel of 2mm means that they are quick to actuate. Add to this the support for a 1,000Hz polling rate out of the box, and the L4 is more than capable of being used for your next competitive match. The response times also served me well while playing League of Legends and in tactical shooters like Insurgency Sandstorm.
Customization
You can fully adjust your keybinds, adjust the lighting and update your firmware via Lemokey’s convenient Launcher app, available through a browser and without a download. The keyboard also runs QMK firmware, which gives plenty of customization options for enthusiasts — perfect for those who want to set up some more complex macros, for example.
The software is easy to access, but I appreciate the built-in hardware shortcuts for quick adjustments, so you don’t always need to open a browser or plug in the keyboard.Adjusting the lighting was really easy using keyboard shortcuts, so I was able to turn off the garish default rainbow lighting pattern without any trouble.
The keyboard is also fully hotswappable, and includes the kit you’ll need to take apart the keyboard. For those who already have a set of switches and keycaps ready to go, or rather build their keyboard from scratch, you can pick up the barebones version of the keyboard for $194.
Lemokey L4 review: The downs
Although $214 isn’t an extreme price point for a fully metal keyboard, the L4 still higher than many of the best gaming keyboards available. Also, I was underwhelmed by the lighting, which dampened the otherwise stellar visual design of the board.
Value for money?
When comparing the Lemokey L4 to other premium gaming keyboards, I question how worthwhile the board is for its gaming features, or lack thereof. Sure, the L4 has slightly gaming-focused switches and uses Cherry profile keycaps, but there’s very little to set this keyboard apart from the productivity-oriented Keychron Q3 Max.
Crucially, our favorite gaming keyboard, the Keychron K2 HE ($130), can be picked up for a fraction of the L4, which packs magnetic Hall Effect switches for in-depth adjustment of individual key actuation. It also comes complete with Rapid Trigger, which brings an advantage to FPS games in particular allowing for quicker inputs — this board has much more going for it than the L4 as far as gaming goes.
What’s more, Lemokey has opted for a simpler design with the L4: missing are the knob and macro keys which help set the Lemokey L3 ($214) and Lemokey L1 ($214) apart. These are both a defining part of the range’s looks, but also provide a tempting reason to spend the extra money for a premium keyboard.
The macro buttons in particular are supremely useful when gaming, with 4 easily-bindable keys allowing you to set-up frequently used shortcuts. Considering the L3 is sold for the same price as the L4, the L3 is the better option for those looking for a keyboard with more unique features.
Dim Lighting
The RGB lighting was underwhelming on the L4, with the lights unable to provide an encompassing glow around the keys. Keychron Super Switches are advertised as better at spreading light than other Keychron switches, but this didn’t hold up in light or dark settings. The south-facing RGBs weren’t bright enough to fully illuminate the plate, missing a chance to enhance the keyboard’s look.
Lemokey L4 review: Verdict
I’ve enjoyed my time with the Lemokey L4, and appreciate the combination of tanky build and effortless typing. The Keychron Super switches are more than competent at both gaming and for typists, meaning this is a keyboard that can do it all.
However, given this is intended to be a gaming keyboard, I would prefer a little more for the money — the metal case and switches do not by themselves justify the premium cost in my view. This is especially true when you consider cheaper gaming keyboards built to a similar quality, which offer as many or more gaming features.
Lemokey’s own fully-metal Lemokey P1 Pro offers the same switches, polling rates, Cherry keycap profile and QMK firmware, all for $129. Meanwhile, Keychron’s K2 HE offers many of the same benefits but with the gaming power of Gateron’s Double Rail magnetic switches, again for $129.
The Lemokey L4 is no doubt a solid option for those who can afford it, especially if a metal case is desired. It’s just difficult to recommend a $200 gaming keyboard that, well, doesn’t perform like a $200 gaming keyboard.
